Hard political evidence exists that a strategy of supporting investments in children can make the difference between winning and losing elections. The reason for the issue’s potency is clear: voters of all stripes overwhelmingly support creating learning opportunities for children, protecting children, and providing them with comprehensive health coverage. National and state polls commissioned by Vote Kids and a separate but related organization all show the same pattern.

Voters:

Want more investments in children;

Think that the needs of kids are routinely elbowed aside by stronger forces;

Have little idea where their elected officials stand on kid’s issues;

Have little understanding of the substantial role the federal government plays in funding children’s programs;

Will vote for politicians who they think support kids, and

Will vote against those who they think are unkind to kids.

We believe it is essential to declare an affirmative, optimistic, research-driven message to “persuadable” voters that:

Investing in proven children’s programs is the smart and cost-efficient thing to do. It makes the U.S. stronger as we compete in a global economy, provides us with the young people needed to participate in our armed forces, and it helps support an aging population, and

It’s the right thing to do.

In addition, we must also:

Make sure those with unfriendly votes against children don’t get a free pass. It’s important to make the connection that 60% to 80% of public funds for children, other than for education, comes from Washington and are in the domain of their federal delegation.